Congressman Bruce Barton. Library of Congress
A year and a half ago, VTDigger.org made a pitch to J-Lab, a journalism center at the School of Communication at American University, for what then seemed like a pipe dream: the creation of a virtual, public newsroom. Our idea was to design a newsgathering platform with the functionality of a social networking site like Facebook. We wanted to give readers and reporters a place to work together. Reporters would let readers know what they’re working on and ask readers for story suggestions and tips. Readers would have a forum to discuss news topics with each other and to interact with reporters.
Thanks to generous funding from J-Lab, we have built that platform. On Tipster, readers can follow Vermont reporters, suggest news tips, participate in news groups, and post news events, documents, photos and links.
We hope you’ll join the conversation and become a member of our Tipster news community.
After all, why simply read the news, when you can help make it happen?
Visit Tipster and learn what it’s all about.
Posted in VTDigger.org | Tagged Tipster, vtdigger.org
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“Vt Tipster” seems like a Champlain College Cover. Especially with the their header at the top. The design of the site also rings of Champlain College.
They use their “Media Relations” department to mislead and I don’t think vtdigger has anything to do with that.
Honor and integrity should not be overshadowed by business dollars, let alone higher education.
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Hi Christian,
We rely on three sources of income — donations, sponsorship placements and grants. This enables us to pay for staff to work at VTDigger.org. As you may know, VTDigger.org has two employees, myself and Josh Larkin, freelancers and two interns. If you would like to suggest a new alternative source of revenue I don’t know about, I’m all ears.
Anne Galloway
Editor, VTDigger.org
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Yes Anne thank you.
As I’ve said many times, I appreciate (as do others) your hard work.
I’ve sent Josh my feed back of sorts at times and feel he knows that I’m a strong supporter of http://www.vtdigger.org and both of your efforts.
“I’m all ears”
Well now,
I’ll remember you said that. . .
A growing portion of “News reporting agencies” have succum to the political environment so to speak, which reduces their truthfullness and accuracy. How would the public ever know?
“NEWS” has no price tag. It can’t be bought, not by Champlain College, UVM or anybody.
You know this. Its your forte.
You need to avoid the main stream to preserve your integrity. Good luck with that by the way.
Thank you Anne for your efforts.
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As a recently laid-off journalist, longtime member of the Vermont press, editor and freelancer and contributor to Vt.Digger, I am both amused and alarmed at readers misunderstanding of how news gets posted and printed, and the cavils of those who object to ads or their placement. Someone, somewhere, HAS TO PAY THE BILLS. News gathering, and running a news web site, is expensive and time-consuming, a labor that when done well requires professionalism and practice, skills in law and libel, grammar and English, and the ability to delve into a host of difficult subjects from nuclear power to disease, mental health and medicine, legislative processes, zoning and planning, schools – you name it.
I’ve sadly watched news gathering and reporting decline seriously in Vermont over 30 years, both in depth and breadth of coverage, and there’s not a journalist over the age of 35 in Vermont who feels otherwise. As ads and classifieds decline at printed Vt. newspapers and they shrink in size and scope and coverage, VtDigger has become an innovative attempt and answer to this decline, which threatens an informed citizenry as the basis for our democracy. I hope – and think – readers are savvy enough to understand the difference between an ad and news content, and that they will welcome all — businesses and firms, colleges and industries, companies local and out-of-state — willing to support this online venture at keeping Vermonters informed.
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Which “readers” were you talking about Andrew?
How well do you know those readers?
I’m over the age of 35 and remember quite well when news reporting wasn’t so influenced by politics.
I’ve often said that police departments became less effective, the more political they became.
Once you add over whelming incentive, you loose some of the integrity.
Thank you for your comments.